By:  Madla                                            S.B. No. 1343

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to allowing the use of certain computerized voting

 1-2     systems.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Title 8, Election Code, is amended by adding

 1-5     Chapter 128 to read as follows:

 1-6                  CHAPTER 128.  COMPUTERIZED VOTING SYSTEMS

 1-7           Sec. 128.001.  COMPUTERIZED VOTING SYSTEM STANDARDS.

 1-8     (a)  The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to allow for

 1-9     the use of a computerized voting system.  The procedures must

1-10     provide for the use of a computerized voting system with:

1-11                 (1)  multiple voting terminals for the input of vote

1-12     selections on the ballot presented by a main computer; and

1-13                 (2)  a main computer to coordinate ballot presentation,

1-14     vote selection, ballot image storage, and result tabulation.

1-15           (b)  Notwithstanding Chapter 66, a system under this section

1-16     may allow for the storage of processed ballot materials in an

1-17     electronic form on the main computer.

1-18           (c)  The secretary of state may modify existing procedures as

1-19     necessary to allow the use of a system authorized by this chapter.

1-20           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-21           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.